Attaching means for electric connection boxes



April 21, 1953 J. E. DIEFFENDERFER ETAL 2,635,773

ATTACHING MEANS FOR ELECTRIC CONNECTION BOXES Filed Dec. 23, 1948 INVENTORS. e/a/in f. fl/qfenaew/er 660x 0 M flzefenderfez Patented Apr. 21, 1953 ATTACHING MEANS FOR ELECTRIC CONNECTION BOXES John E. Diefienderfer and. George H. Dieffenderfer, Constantine, Mich.; said George H. Dieffenderfer assignor to said John E. Dieffenderfer Application December 23, 1948, Serial No. 66,944

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in attaching means for electric connection boxes.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a mounting or attaching means for electric connection boxes and the like which enables the quick and secure mounting thereof in a wall opening, the attaching means being engageable with the inner side of the support from outside manipulation.

Second, to provide a structure of this character which is effective in securing the box to a support and manipulated entirely from the front of the box.

Third, to provide a structure having these advantages which is "simple and economical in its parts and may be'manipulated by an unskilled Workman. j

Objects relating. to details and economies of the invention willappear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims. v

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front fragmentary perspective view of an outlet boxdisposed in an opening of a support such as a wall, one of the attaching members being adjusted to securing position, the other being shown in its initial position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the relation of the box and attaching member to the support, prior to the manipulation of the attaching member to retaining position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line 3=3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view corresponding to that of Fig. 3 with the attaching member adjusted to retaining position but prior to the final manipulation of the pull straps thereof.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the attaching members.

In the accompanying drawing, l represents a support, such as a; wall, having an opening 2 therein adapted to receive an electric connection box designated by'the numeral 3. Such boxes are ordinarily provided with brackets 4, adapted to engage the outer side of a support as shown in Fig. 1. This bracket has attaching arm 5, slotted at 6 to receive the attaching screws 1. this' connection permitting adjustment of the bracket to meet the different support conditions.

The attachingmembers of our invention designated generally by the numeral 8 are desirably formed integrally of bendable sheet metal and comprise the body portions 9, having bendable 2 g fingers Ill projecting from the outer edge thereof and adapted to fold, as shown at I I, over an edge of the box 3.

Arms 23 project from the inner edge of the body portion 8 and these arms are desirably re,- inforced by longitudinal ribs l2 struck up therefrom, the adjacent ends of the ribs being spaced to provide a relatively weak bending zone l3 between the ribbed arm portions l4 and IS. The ribs of the inner arm portions terminate adjacent the inner edge IB- of the body portion thereby providing bending points 0! zones l'l. That is, this arrangement insures the bending at the zones l3 and IT and thereby insures the proper engagement of the arms when adjusted to retaining position.

The edges of the arms are preferably notched at l8 at the edges of zones (3 thereby further facilitating bending at a predetermined point. The arms are provided with extension straps l9 which are reversely folded upon the arm and at the inner sides thereof and at the inner side of the body portion 9. The arms are of such length that when the device is mounted on a box as is illustrated, the straps project so that they may be grasped as by a pair of pliers indicated at 20. A pull thereon results in kinking the arms at their bending zones I 3 and at their bending points I! int-c clamping retaining engagement with the support I as best shown in Fig. 4. The straps l9 may then be folded over the edge of the box and into the box as shown at 2| in Fig. 1.

Should it become necessary to replace the box, the ends of the straps may be detached and a thin tool inserted to straighten out the arms permitting the withdrawal of the box.

Our attaching devices are very economical to produce and may be used with a wide range or variety of fixtures to be mounted and are readily adapted and adjusted thereto.

We have illustrated and described our invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof.

a outer edge thereof and adapted to be bent inwardly over an adjacent edge of a box, and spaced arms extending from the inner edge of the body portion, the arms having longitudinal ribs struck outwardly therefrom with their adjacent ends spaced to provide bending zones, the arms having opposed edge notches in their bending zones facilitating bending between the adjacent ends of the ribs, the ribs terminating adjacent the juncture of the arms with the body portion and thereby defining bending points, the arms having straps extending from their inner ends and reversely folded and disposed on the inner sides thereof and on the inner side of the body portion for disposition between the arms and body portion and a wall of the box when the attaching member is positioned and with the straps initially projecting beyond the outer edge of the box whereby they may be grasped and the arms bent outwardly at their flexing zones relative to the'box and intoretaining clamping engagement with a support in opposed relation to the bracket on the box by pulling on the straps, and end portions of the straps being folded inwardly over the edge of the box into retaining engagement therewith with the ends of the straps disposed within the box.

2. 'In combination with a connection box having a laterally projecting support engaging bracket, of an integral box attaching member formed of sheet metal and comprising a body portion and bendable fingers extending from the outer edge thereof and adapted to be bent inwardly over an adjacent edge of a box, and spaced arms extending from the inner edge of the body portion, the arms having longitudinal ribs struck outwardly therefrom with their adjacent ends spaced to provide bending zones, the ribs terminating adjacent the juncture of the arms with the body portion and thereby defining bending points, the arms having straps extending from their inner ends and reversely folded and disposed on the inner sides thereof and on the inner side of the body portion for disposition between the arms and body portion and a wall of the box when the attaching member is positioned and with the straps initially projecting beyond the outer edge of the box whereby they may be grasped and the arms bent outwardly at their flexing zones relative to the box and into retaining clamping engagement with a support in opposed relation to the bracket on 'the box by pulling on the straps, the end portions of the straps being folded inwardly over the edge of the box into retaining engagement therewith with the ends of the straps disposed within the box.

3. In combination with a connection box having a laterally projecting support engaging bracket fixedly connected thereto for engaging the forward outer face of a support for said box, an integral'box attaching member separate from said bracket and formed of sheet metal and comprising a body portion having outer and inner edges and a bendable finger extending from the outer edge thereof and adapted to be bent inwardly over an adjacent edge of a box, and an armextending from the inner edge of the body portion, the arm having a strap extending from its inner end and reversely folded and disposed on the inner side thereof and on the inner side of the body portion for disposition between the arm andbody portion and awall of the box when the attaching member is positioned on the box with the strap initially projecting beyond d the box whereby it may be grasped and the arm bent outwardly into retaining engagement with the inner rearward face of said support in opposed relation to the bracket by pulling on the strap, the outer edge of said body portion thrustingly engaging the inner side "of said'bracket when said arm is bent outwardly into-retaining engagement with said support.

4. In combination with a connection box having a laterally projecting support engaging bracket fixedly connected thereto for engaging the forward outer face of a support for said box, an integral box attaching member separate from said bracket and formed of sheet metal and comprising a body portion having outer and inner edges and a bendable finger extending from the outer edge thereof and adapted to be bent inwardly over an adjacent edge of a box, and an arm extending from the inner edge of the body portion, the arm having a longitudinal reinforcing rib terminating at the juncture of. the-arm with the body portion thereby defining a bend' ing zone'at the juncture of the arm with the body portion, said arm having a strap extending from its inner end and reversely folded and disposed at the side of the arm and initially projecting beyond the box to be attached'wherebyill may be grasped and-the arm bent outwardly at its flexing zone into'retaining engagement with the inner rearward face of said support in opposed relationv to the bracket by pulling on the strap, the outer edge of said body portion thrustingly engaging the inner side of said bracket when said arm is bent outwardly into retaining engagement with said support.

5. An attaching member for connection boxes and the like adapted to be positioned at the side of a box between it and the adjacent edge of an opening in a support and comprising a body portion having a bendable finger extending outwardly therefrom and adapted to be bent inwardly over an adjacent edge of a boxto be attached, said arm bent inwardly over the adjacent edge of a box constituting means for retaining said attaching member in assembled relation to said box when said box is assembled to a support therefor, and an arm extending inwardly from the body portion, the arm having longitudinal reinforcing elements spaced to provide a bending zone between them, one of said reinforcing elements terminating adjacent the juncture of the arm with the body portion to provide a bending zone at the juncture of the arm with the body portion, the arm having a strap extending from its inner end and reverseiy folded and disposed on the inner side of therbody I portion for grasping so that pulling stresses may be applied thereto and the arm thereby bent outwardly at its flexing zone into retaining engagement with the inner side of a support, another of said reinforcing elements terminating adjacent the juncture of the arm with the strap to provide a bending zone adjacent the juncture of the arm with the strap.

6. An attaching member for connection boxes and the like adapted to be positioned at the side of a box between it and the adjacent edge of an opening in a support and comprising a body portion having a bendable ,finger extending outwardly therefromand adapted to be bent inwardly over an adjacent edge of a box to be attached, said arm bent inwardly over the adjacent edge of a box constituting means for retaining said attaching member in assembled relation to said box when said box is assembled to a support therefor, and an arm extending inwardly from the body portion, the arm having a strap extending from its inner end and reversely folded and disposed on the inner side of the body portion for grasping so that pulling stresses may be applied thereto and the arm thereby bent outwardly into retaining engagement with the inner side of a support, said arm having a longitudinal reinforcing element terminating adjacent the juncture of the arm with the strap to provide a bending zone at such juncture.

'7. In combination with a connection box having a laterally projecting support engaging bracket fixedly connected thereto for engaging the outer forward face of a support for said box, an integral box attaching member separate from said bracket and formed of sheet metal and comprising a body portion having outer and inner edges, and an arm extending from the inner edge of the body portion, the arm having a strap extending from its inner end and reversely folded and disposed on the inner side of the arm and body portion between the arm and body portion and a Wall of the box when the attaching member is positioned on the box with the strap initially projecting beyond the box whereby it may be grasped and the arm bent outwardly into retaining engagement with the inner rearward face of said support in opposed relation to said bracket by pulling on the strap, the outer edge of said body portion thrustingly engaging the inner side of said bracket when said arm is: bent outwardly into retaining engagement with said support.

JOHN E. DIEFF'ENDERFER. GEORGE E. DIEFFENDERFER.

Refer-slices Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,402,928 Hellweg Jan. 10, 1922 1,676,485 Finucane July 10, 1928 1,820,309 Judd et a1 Aug. 25, 1931 1,961,728 Arnest et al June 5, 1934 2,448,359 Davison Aug. 31, 1948 2,456,450 Sauter Dec. 14, 1948 2,491,742 Lein Dec. 20, 1949 2,581,755 Dieifenderfer Jan. 8, 1952 

